Garnet Meanings and Uses

Your On-Line Guide to

The Healing Energies, Metaphysical Properties,

Legendary Uses and Meaning

of

Garnet

Introduction to the Meaning and Uses of Garnet

Garnet is found the world over, and though commonly known to be red, it is in fact found in a variety of colors and chemical formulas, each with its own set of spiritual properties. [Simmons, 165] Legends and folklore place garnet among the most ancient of talismans. Not only was it prized as an ornamental jewel, but its strong curative powers and protective energies made it invaluable.

Garnet is also known for its utilization of creative energy. It grounds spirit forces within the body and helps in the ability to work lovingly on the physical plane. [Raphell, 156, 162] [Simmons, 166] Yet Garnet is a sensual stone. It represents primordial fire, the creation of the world out of chaos, purification and love. It is a stone of strong, intense feelings. [Megemont, 87]

The distinctive title Garnet is derived from the Latin name Granatum, a pomegranate, because of the resemblance the granular varieties of Garnet bears to the seeds of that fruit. Garnets vary in size from a grain of sand to the size of an apple. According to the Roman historian Pliny, the large dull-colored "Carbunculus of India" (a variety of Garnet) used to be hollowed out into vessels which would hold as much as a pint. [Fernie, 157]

Garnets were used in the former Czechoslovakia as far back as the Bronze Age, and in Egypt more than five thousand years ago. They were used in Sumeria around 2100 B.C. and in Sweden between 1000 and 2000 B.C. They were also popular in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. According to the Talmud, the only light on Noah's ark was provided by a large Garnet. In Europe during the Middle Ages, Garnet was used to enhance truth, faith and constancy, and to dispel melancholy. [Simmons, 165-166] As a Warrior's Stone, Garnet served as a talisman in the Crusades for both the Christians and their Muslim enemies. [Megemont, 87]

Garnet is said to have been one of the twelve stones in the Breastplate of the High Priest, and has been used as a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, the South American Indians, the Aztecs, the African tribal elders, and the Mayans. It acts with speed to expand one's awareness due to the flash of lightening contained within, and enhances one's internal fire to bring creative powers to implementation. [Melody, 290]

Garnets whose color suggested that of blood, were not only believed to confer invulnerability from wounds, but some Asiatic tribes launched garnets from their sling bows, and later as bullets, the principle being the blood-colored stone would inflict a more deadly wound than a leaden bullet. Such were used by the rebellious Hanzas, in 1892, during their hostilities with the British troops on the Kashmir frontier, and many of these precious missiles were preserved as curiosities. [Kunz, 33-34]

Today, Garnet is not only worn ornamentally as a beautiful gem, but is used widely in industrial markets, from watch gears and scientific instruments to sandpaper and abrasives. [Mella, 85]

Types of Garnet

Garnet is a powerful energizing and regenerative stone. It balances, strengthens and protects. While it is one of the most plentiful stones, it has several forms according to its mineral base, and in addition to all the healing and spiritual properties listed in this article, each type has additional properties listed on its specific page, along with its color energies, angels, and Feng Shui uses.

Almandine Garnet unites the energy of scarlet and red with the more muted, earthy overtones of brown. It is intimately tied to the Earth, and is a talisman of protection and unyielding strength, increasing willpower and resistance to all things negative. It aids circulation and all blood related issues. Associated with the First Chakra, it is a stone of physical love and relationships, and a spiritual stone of psychic protection.

Andradite Garnet is well-grounded in Earth's elemental colors of green or olive, dark yellow, and black. A spiritual stone of higher thinking and self-empowerment, it is also a stone of strength and safety. Associated with the Base, Heart and Solar Plexus Chakras, it dissolves feelings of isolation or alienation and attracts intimate encounters with others.

Grossular Garnet exemplifies hope, empowerment, and all things nurturing from Mother Earth. It ranges in sunrise colors of yellow, gold, orange, scarlet and red, and the more popular shades of lush green. It is a stone of prosperity and abundance, encouraging gratitude and service to others. Associated with the Base, Sacral, Solar Plexus and Heart Chakras, Grossular Garnet is a deeply spiritual stone.

Pyrope Garnet is a mesmerizing stone, described as "living fire." Its crystals range in color from rose red to deep crimson, including shades of scarlet, violet, and even indigo. It is a stone of inspiration, bestowing vitality and charisma, and assists in owning one's gifts and abilities, and sharing them with others. It aligns the Base and Crown Chakras, and stimulates warmth and gentleness, unifying creative forces of the self.

Spessartine Garnet is one of the rarer varieties, known as the Garnet of the Sun. Its energy radiates in shades of dark gold, orange, scarlet and deep red. Crystals can be pale yellow if nearly pure, but are almost always mixed with Almandine Garnet. Spessartine activates the analytical processes of the mind, alleviating fears and providing confidence to change one's life. It is associated with the Sacral and Solar Plexus Chakras, awakening creative energies and lending power to one's will.

Uvarovite Garnet is emerald green in color, the only consistently green Garnet. It forms in small, uniform crystals and is rare, most often found in its drusy form, a natural surface coating of tiny sparkling crystals covering a rock, sometimes made into beautiful jewelry. It promotes prosperity and wealth, and assists one in learning to joyfully accept what is offered by the Universe. It stimulates the Heart Chakra and enhances spiritual relationships. This is a calm and peaceful stone.

Garnet Introduction

This article describes the physical and emotional healing attributes of Garnet as a Stone of Health, extracting negative energy from the chakras, and transmuting the energy to a beneficial state. [Melody, 290]

It has been used to reduce body toxins, purify vital organs and blood, and assists in assimilation of vitamins and minerals. Emotionally it provides a protective and calming influence during use and is thought to heal melancholy and depression, strengthening the survival instinct, and bringing courage and hope into critical situations.

Garnet balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate, and can inspire love and balance the sex drive. Garnet is considered a lucky stone, for love, success, and for business relationships. It helps you let go of old behavior patterns and boosts self-confidence.

All Garnets honor Sekhmet, the Egyptian Goddess of War, and is the traditional birthstone of those born in January. It is the stone of those born under the zodiac sign of Aquarius, and as an Enhancer Strengthener crystal, it has been worn for centuries as a protective and powerful talisman.

The legends of Garnet are vast and colorful.

Garnet Therapies - Overview

(Please note: Information on this web site is no substitute for consulting a health care professional. All information contained on this web site, including information relating to medical and health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only. Please see your doctor or health care professional before starting any alternative treatments, diets, supplements or exercise programs.)

Garnet are stones often used to deal with bad dreams, and depressed states of mind.

Garnet Physical Healing Energy

Garnet is thought to have medicinal abilities to reduce body toxins. At times stones were placed in wounds to help heal by encouraging the clotting of the blood. [Mella, 85]

Garnet can alleviate acne, low libido, and disturbances in the cardiac rhythm (except for arterial hypertension, which Garnet can even aggravate). It has been reported to relieve rheumatic and arthritic pain and some psychological illnesses. [Megemont, 87]

Garnet Emotional Healing Energy

Garnet provides a protective influence and a calming stable vitality during use. [Melody, 291] It is thought to heal emotional problems. Placed under a pillow, Garnet is reputed to alleviate bad dreams. Medicine men used it to cure mental depression. [Mella, 85]

Garnet is useful to have in a crisis, particularly in situations where there seems to be no way out or where life has fragmented. It fortifies, activates, and strengthens the survival instinct, bringing courage and hope into those situations. Crisis is turned into challenge under Garnet's influence and promotes mutual assistance in times of trouble. [Hall, 136]

Garnet can act as a strong help to balance the energy system, stimulate desires and uplift your attitude. As a balancer stone, Garnet can prevent fears of insecurity and even money losses. They're lucky stones: lucky for love, success, and for goals. Use Garnet to increase your positivity and popularity, thus enhancing your personal self-esteem. As an energy stone, it can encourage success in business and business relationships. It is a wonderful executive gem, especially for women. [Mella, 86] Square cut garnets are particularly useful in bringing success in business matters. [Hall, 136]

Garnet has even been credited with aiding widows in finding a new husband. After mourning for too long, Garnet helps to regain the spirit, calming sadness and emotional pain, helping those who have gone through great despair get back on their feet and become seductive again. Perhaps the same could be true for widowers as well. [Megemont, 87-88]

Garnet Chakra Healing and Balancing Energy

Garnet cleanses and reenergizes the chakras. It revitalizes, purifies and balances energy, bringing serenity or passion as appropriate. It inspires love and devotion, balancing the sex drive and alleviating emotional disharmony. Red Garnet in particular stimulates the kundalini energy and aids sexual potency. [Hall, 136] It stimulates from both the Base and Crown chakras to provide for free flow of movement via the spinal column and the inner pathway of light, distributing the appropriate amount of energy to each portion of the body. [Melody, 291]

Garnet has a strong link with the pituitary gland and can stimulate expanded awareness and past-life recall. It activates other crystals, amplifying their effect. [Hall, 136]

Garnet Divination

Dreams of garnet signify the solution of a mystery. [Kunz, 358]

Garnet Spiritual Energy

Garnet sharpens your perceptions of yourself and other people. It dissolves ingrained behavior patterns that are no longer serving you, and helps you let go of obsolete ideas. Garnet removes inhibitions and taboos, opening up the heart and bestowing self-confidence. [Hall, 136]

Garnet is also known as a Stone of Commitment - to purpose, to others, and to oneself. Its loving powers reflect the attributes of devotion and understanding. It both monitors and adjusts the flow of energy to provide for a balanced energy field around the physical body and alignment of the emotional and intellectual bodies. [Melody, 290-291]

Garnet Goddess Crystals

All Garnets honor Sekhmet, the Egyptian Goddess of War. She is the most powerful goddess of Lower Egypt, and is usually depicted with the head of a lion and the body of a beautiful woman.

Some garnets honor other Goddesses as well. They will be mentioned on their specific pages.

Birthstones

There are several ways to find an appropriate birthstone. The traditional one is listed first. These are from the popular lists that most people are familiar with. Some people just use their Zodiac sign.

Garnet Traditional Birthstone

Garnet is the traditional birthstone of those born in January.

Garnet - Zodiac Stone of Aquarius

Garnet is the zodiac stone for those born under the sign Aquarius, the mid-winter season between January 20 and February 18. Aquarians desire the truth of all things and have a gift for art and music.

Garnet Amulets and Talismans

A Warrior's Stone, Garnet served as a talisman in the Crusades for both the Christians and their Muslim enemies. [Megemont, 87]

As an amulet, Garnet was worn on the body for strong protection against poisons. [Mella, 85]

Strengtheners are crystals that are chemically formed in the island silicate class. This class of minerals forms very compact materials that are strong, resistant, and unyielding. Strengthener crystals provide you with the energy to resist temptations and resist distractions from your goals. Garnets are the best known Strengtheners and the perfect talismans to keep us on course.

Garnet in Ancient Lore and Legend

Garnets were employed as inlaid stones in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon jewelry. [Fernie, 19] Garnets the color of fire were also called Carbuncles (from fire-coals), and the Hebrew name for the carbuncle was Bareketh (flashing stone) or Barak (lightning). It was a stone in the breastplate of the High Priest. Eastern legends assert that a carbuncle was suspended by Noah, in the Ark, to diffuse light. The Greeks called the carbuncle the Lamp Stone and it was said, if hung around the neck, to give the power of seeing in the dark. [Fernie, 158-159] [Mella, 86]

Greek mythology speaks of Garnet as a stone that can, through divine influence, heal emotional rifts between lovers. [Simmons, XXI]

A Warrior's Stone, Garnet served as a talisman in the Crusades for both the Christians and their Muslim enemies. The Merovingians brought garnets from faraway Ceylon (Sri Lanka) through the Silk Road, combining it with amber from the Baltic to create magnificent jewels. Since these two stones balanced each other, one warm, one cold, some see the source of the Frankish civilization in this combination, the amber tempering the warrior-like fieriness of the Germanic people. [Megemont, 87]

Low libido and sexual disorders were credited to be relieved by the application of Garnet directly to the genital organs. Princess Palatine discovered her husband, the brother of King Louis XIV, applying garnets on his body in this way. Though he asked her not to reveal this to anyone, she instead told the whole court and wrote about it in her many famous letters. [Megemont, 87]

Garnet is a conqueror's stone. Legend has it that a garnet ornamented Don Juan's ring. [Megemont, 88]

The well-formed image of a lion, if engraved on a garnet, will cure the wearer of all diseases, protect and preserve his honor and health, and guard him from all perils in traveling. [Kunz, 133]

Some Asiatic tribes used red garnets as bullets for sling bows because they pierced their victims quickly and were well hidden when they mingled with the blood. At other times they were placed in wounds to encourage clotting of the blood. [Mella, 85] The tribes continued to use them later as bullets in firearms, assuming the blood-colored stone would inflict a more deadly wound than a leaden bullet. Such were used by the rebellious Hanzas, in 1892, during their hostilities with the British troops on the Kashmir frontier, and many of these precious missiles were preserved as curiosities. [Kunz, 33-34]

Footnote References

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